Liquid-elevating device for motor-vehicle engines



A lw, 1923,

H. B. GRANT LIQUID ELEVATING DEVICE FOR MOTOR VEHIQLE ENGINES Original Filed Dec 18 x920 euarmw. I

Gua 5 fer ies;

z-iuelc nicnnnr, or cjnrcaeo, rnmrvors, assicnort ros'rnwaiar-wennnn'srnnncivr- :c'rsn conrcanrron, or enrcaoo', ncisors, A cos mms or VIRGINIA.

LIQUID-ELEVATING DEVICE FOR MOTOR-VEHICLE ENGINES.

Application filed December 18, 1920, Serial No. $31,798. Renewed September 7, 1922. Serial No. 586,803.

To all whom it may concern: I

' Be it known that l, HUGO B. GYRANT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chlcagqin the county of Cook and State of lllinois, have invented new and useful linprovements in Liquid-Elevating Devices for Motor 'vehicle Engines,' of which the following-kiss specification. v 1 This? invention relates to apparatus or devices for conveying liquids from a storage tanker other source of supply toa receptacle located atahigher level so that the liquid may be fed trom'the latter by gravity to the placeor'use: Apparatus of this kind has beenernployedin connection with the liquid fuel s'upplyltsystems of= motor vehicle engines, and the invention has been illustrated in connection with, such a system,but it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto, and that it is also capable of use infconnection with the lubrication system orapplicable to any liquid dispensing ,or delivery system requiring a means for conveying'; a li'quidfrom a certain level to a 'higher level. The-invention hasfor its object to provide a'very simple and highly etlici'ent apparatus ofthe kind stated. in which the well-known vacuum principle is employed.

The object stated is attained by means of a novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed, and in ordei" that the same may be better understood, reference is had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification. I

In the drawing;

Figure 1 is a central vertical section of the apparatus, and Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line 2-2 of Fig 1.

leferring specifically to the drawing, 5 denotes a liquid receiving vessel which is positioned in an overflow receiving vessel 6. The top of the vessel 5 is closed In 7 which also extends over to the si eot the outer vessel 6 and is continued upwardly to form a vacuum chamber 8 which is closed at theztop by a head 9. The vacuum charnber' has a fluid outlet 10 into the vessel 5, said outlet being connected to the chamber bottom formed by the head 7. I The outlet 10 has a non-returnor check valve 11. To the side of the vessel are fitted overflow outlets 12 into the vessel 6, the same being also provided with non-return or check valves 13.

a head,

connection with the carburetoror other ap-,

paratus to which the liquid is to be delivered by gravity. The outlet 16 has a non-return fill or check valve 19 audit opens into a strainer 20 located in the chamber 17.

The cap 9 carries a liquid inlet connection 21 to the vacuum chamber 8, said connection being provided with a non-return or check valve 22. This connection has a strainer chamber 23 and a nipple 24 by means of.

which latterconnection is made with the liquid supplytank. The chamber 23-11011- tains a strainer 25. l

The following means are provided for producing a vacuum in the chamber 8:

The cap 9 forming the top of the chamber 8 is provided withan air pump cylinder 26 which opens intothe chamber and contains a reciprocating plunger 27. The top of the plunger 27 has a strap 28' which fits over an eccentric 29 located 1n the cylinder 26 and carried by a shaft 30 supported by bearings on the cylinder wall. The shaft 30 extends from one side of thecylinder 26' and it is here coupled to amflexible drive shaft i i j i I The'phalt 31 is driven from some movable part 0 the engine, preferabl the fanbelt 32, the shaft being connecte to a friction wheel 83 which is in contact with the belt. The friction wheel 33 is carried by a bracket arm 34: pivoted, as shown at 35 to some convenient portion of the engine accordingto the design of the latter. ,A spring 36 engagealle with the bracket arm 34 holds the wheel in frictional contact with the bell:

32. It will therefore be evident that the air pump operates when the engine is running. The bracket arm 3 leis composed of two slidably connected sections for adjustment. The pump cylinder 26 is provided with an air vent 37 above the inn er 27. a

in operation, the liqui entering the cham her 8 in response to the suction produced therein by the air pump, flows by ravity through the outlet 10 into the vessel f) and passes frorn'the latter, through the outlet 16 into the chamber 17 from which latter it flows through the outlet connection 18 to the carburetor. If the liquid level in the vessel 5 gets as high as the overflow outlets 12, the excess liquid passes through the latter into the vessel 6 and es apes from the same through the outlet 15 back to the main supply tank. ".A. constant level is therefore automatically maintained in the vessel 5, and this is accomplished without the employment of a float,

While the construction shown in the draw ing is the preferred one, it is to be understood that various modifications may be made. without a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter. The air pump can be driven from any moving parts or adjuncts of the engine so that the rate of floi' of liquid through the vessels 5 and G'is relative to the engine speed and load, and also such that a constant level is maintained in the vessel .The apparatus is simple in construction and posi tive in action as i't is operated by the engine itselt and all springs and floats have been eliminated, and it does not affect the running of the engine by interfering with the suction in the engine cylindersl As the apparatus is operated directly by the'engine itself, the fuel supply of the latter, if the apparatus is used for this purpose, varies according to the speed or load, So that any increasein the speed of the engine is accompanied by an increase in the amount of fuel delivered to the carburetor. The niechanism is simple and durable, and requires .no attention except ordinary cleaning and inspection, and occasional lubrication of the air pump and its driving means, and all. parts of the air pump are readily accessible for inspection or replacement.

With the ordinary vacuum fuel feed tank,

this being due to the fact that the air necessary with the present apparatus, be;

cause there is a positive pumping action set up when the engine starter is operated to turn over the engine, and a few turns of the crank shatt'sufiice to draw fuel from themain supply tank to the empty vacuum tank, pump is operatively-connected to the engine.

I claim:

1. In a vacuum liquid supply apparatus, a liquid receiving vessel having a liquid outlet and an overflow outlet, a vacuum chamber carried by and located above said vessel, and having a liquid outlet thereinto and a liquid inlet, and an air pump having its cylinder opening into the vacuum chamber.

2. In a vacuum liquid supply apparatus, a liquid receiving vessel, an overflow receiving vessel in which the first-mentioned vessel is mountet a head closing the top of the liquid receiving vessel, and also forming the top of the overflow receiving vessel, said head having an upward extension to form a vacuum chamber, a head closing the top of said chamber, said head having a fluid inlet, and an air pump cylinder on said head opening into the vacuum chamber, said chamber havinga fluid outlet into the liquid receiving vessel, and said vessel having a liquid outlet, and also an overflow outlet into the overflow receiving vessel.

In testimony whereol I atiix my signature.

HUGO B. GRANT. 

